Justin Bieber has criticised music award shows, saying the "vast majority" of people he sees in the audience are a "bunch of fake smiles".

The Canadian pop star questioned the purpose of big award ceremonies, commenting that they seem "so hollow".

Twenty-two year old Bieber was named the top male artist at the Billboard music awards this weekend.

The singer reflected on the evening in a long Instagram post to his nearly 70 million followers.

Alongside a photo of a green landscape with a castle he said he meant " No disrespect to anybody at any of the shows or the people running it. Nothing but love for you guys and your support. But I don't feel good when I'm there nor after."

"I try to think of it as a celebration but can't help feeling like people are rating and grading my performance. A lot of people in the audience there to be seem worried about how much camera time they will get or who they can network with," he wrote.

He said when he does his regular shows he feels people are in the audience for the right reason and to have a good time.

He wrote: "But these award shows seem so hollow. I get the premise is to award people for their accomplishments, but is it really? Because when I look in the audience I see a bunch of fake smiles so that when the camera hits them they look happy."

"Sure there are people truly proud of others so I don't want to knock them I'm just looking at the vast majority."

He beat names such as Drake, The Weeknd, Ed Sheeran and Fetty Wap at the Billboards. But the singer said he wanted "fulfilment" as a reward.

"I'm getting awarded for the things that I'm doing and not for who I am which is understandable. I know it would probably be hard to calculate and award someone's spirit lol. But when I do get these awards the temptation of putting my worth in what I do is so hard to fight!", he wrote, "I am privileged and honoured to be recognised by my peers but in these settings I can't feel the recognition."

He ended his message apologising for his grammar and saying: "There's an authenticity missing that I crave! And I wonder does anybody else...".

Bieber has been on his Purpose world tour, but recently revealed he was not able to perform in Argentina due to a ban from 2013.

He wrote on Twitter: "Argentinian Beliebers I would like nothing more than to bring the #purposetour there but until the legal conditions change there I can't."

It is alleged one of his bodyguards was involved in a fracas with a photographer in Buenos Aires. The pop star was also criticised after allegedly "kicking" away Argentinian flags that were thrown on stage while he performed.

Apologising on Twitter at the time he wrote: "I love Argentina and have had some of the best shows of my tour there... I would never do anything to disrespect Argentina or the people of Argentina or the fans. I'm so sorry for anyone who took my actions the wrong way and I hope you can forgive this mistake."